Candela urges Roma not to settle, says a couple of reinforcements would let the side enjoy themselves more

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has written in a letter published by Il Messaggero that Roma should believe they can contend for the Serie A title until the end of the season, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach that the club should not settle for less. Candela wrote that Inter may win the league given they have the strongest squad, but that Roma have all the qualities to fight for it to the final day. Candela praised the way Roma play, saying watching them is a spectacle: they score, entertain and show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A. He credited Gasperini for the team's progress, describing his work as a guarantee. He also praised the coach's relationship with the city, saying he approached it humbly and has already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela highlighted several players. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné in midfield are a guarantee. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. Starting the year with Malen, he said, can make the difference. He concluded that if the club keeps its ideas clear and adds a couple of pieces the squad is missing, the team can enjoy itself even more. He said: "I am certain the club will do it."

Former captain Francesco Totti has spoken again about his bond with Roma, saying he would one day like to return to Trigoria, and has assessed the club's chances of challenging for the Scudetto under Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking on the programme Shasha Sport, Totti looked back over key moments of his career, from turning down Real Madrid to his farewell to football. Asked what Roma still means to him, Totti said: "For me Roma is everything, above all the Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me a huge amount and I have given a lot to it. That is why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done together, not alone." On leaving Trigoria, he said: "It was my home. I lived there for longer than I lived in my own house. I grew up there and I stayed for over thirty-five years. I arrived when I was twelve years old. For me, going to Trigoria was like coming home. I never imagined that one day the moment to leave would come." Recalling his last match at the Olimpico, he said: "It was a historic, special day. Beautiful to live through, but at the same time painful, because it marked the end of a career, the end of a dream. I went round the stadium and saw all the people, from the youngest to the oldest: everyone was crying." On turning down Real Madrid, Totti admitted: "At that moment, I did have some doubts. But in the end, as I have always said, my love for Roma, for the city and for the club, which I carry in my heart, pushed me to decide to stay. I felt it was right, that the best choice was to remain with that team." He also credited Carlo Mazzone with his development. "I think he was the one who helped me most to mature. He taught me many things about football and above all he knew how to manage me when I was still very young." On this season's title race, Totti said: "I think they have the potential to do something important. Probably one or two signings would be needed to strengthen the squad and make it a real Scudetto contender, a team capable of dreaming of the title. The club is working very well, the coach is a great technician and the team, in my opinion, is strong." Looking ahead to the Champions League, he added: "In the Champions League you have to be more prepared, have superior physical condition and an even better equipped squad. You have to be ready because you face opponents who are often stronger than you, always competitive and used to playing at European level."

Roman radio pundits have been debating the Serie A title race, with several arguing Roma can genuinely challenge for the scudetto and that Lazio's surge should not be dismissed as a miracle. Rete Sport's David Rossi said the negative reaction after the Manchester defeat was undeserved by the club and by Gasperini. He said: "The negativity after Manchester was not deserved, neither by us nor by Gasp. Roma on Saturday offer another performance; they have become a team that always wins these matches. If you lose against the top 5 and win against the others, with a few draws here and there, you win the scudetto with ninety points… We not only win these games, we win them well." He added that against Sassuolo, Malen did not want to score and missed a couple of important chances, and that the first half could have been closed out 5 or 6 nil. Gianluca Piacentini, also on Rete Sport, discussed Kvernadze, who has a €4 million release clause in July, saying a January deal could cost between €10 and €12 million. On the Champions League race, he said Roma are in the mix, having reached the 11th matchday, alongside Lazio and Milan, which he said he did not expect. He noted that Napoli and Juventus are well behind. Piacentini argued that finishing second rather than fourth matters for the club's growth: "If you finish fourth you feel you have taken a step back; finish second and you have taken one forward. It is a matter of growth, so second is better than fourth." Checcо Oddo Casano, also on Rete Sport, praised the club's fitness record compared with other sides. He said: "Roma have held up well compared with other teams in terms of injuries. The work done by Gasperini and his staff is aimed at minimising injuries. Up to now, people who are always injured have stopped, such as Pellegrini and Dybala. Svilar has been unlucky with a broken foot, as has Koné… This squad runs, recovers, and we see a much more productive team than in previous years. This is down to better training. The intensity of the match is the result of the intensity of the weekly work. Competition for places has also raised the level of training, because no one is certain of his place." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said this league is Inter and Roma, as it was at the start, and that Como can come back. He warned about Milan: "Be wary of Milan. Not so much this year, although anything can happen. Voices from Milan are talking about the January market, and beyond, they are also talking about next year. The madman (Cardinale, ed.) could build a team… I would not want Inter to win the scudetto this year and Milan next year." He added that Roma will do something in January, as the sporting director has said, and that Mora always scores, knowing where to place himself with an educated foot. Francesca Ferrazza, also of Tele Radio Stereo, praised Koné for turning down France, saying those matches do not count for much, and said Hermoso has become one of Gasperini's fixed points. She added that Gasperini had made his position clear, saying he will not sign for second place. Lorenzo Pes, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said the club now has a technical guide with clear ideas from the first day, and that Gasperini has accelerated the project. He said: "Now Roma have a technical guide with clear ideas from day one. For years we have heard about projects and building; now all of this has been accelerated by Gasperini from the first season. He has never hidden the real objective, which is to shorten the timelines as much as possible." Alessio Nardo, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said Roma should be among the top four and that finishing from fifth down would be a drama, adding that he would also be disappointed if Roma did not reach at least the Champions League playoff. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Lazio play well and have an identity, and that they play only once a week, which helps them. On Roma, he said the side walk over weaker teams, and that Dybala, who has not played for two months, needs to be recovered. On Milan, he said they should leave Europe, as a double commitment would be a problem. On Mora, he said: "His growth is not something you see, because his height is what it is… joking aside, he still has half an hour of stamina." He said Mora is at his best against this type of team and becomes decisive in the final metres, though in other games he bounces and must be ready to be substituted after half an hour. On Hermoso, he admitted he had been wrong to think his career was finished, saying he had bounced back spectacularly. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said he never doubted Roma would fight for the scudetto, and that Lazio are playing well with one match a week, describing them as a humble, convinced and empathetic side. He said: "It cannot just be a miracle; miracles do not last long. This is a team that must go all the way, or at least try. Napoli and Atalanta are far away." Mario Mattioli, also of Radio Radio, said Roma have more players but also more fixtures, while Lazio have a coach who is more realistic than the king in judging what happens on the pitch. He said: "I believe Lazio will last; whether they last longer than Roma, I don't know."

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has written in a letter published by Il Messaggero that Roma should believe they can contend for the Serie A title until the end of the season, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach that the club should not settle for less. Candela wrote that Inter may win the league given they have the strongest squad, but that Roma have all the qualities to fight for it to the final day. Candela praised the way Roma play, saying watching them is a spectacle: they score, entertain and show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A. He credited Gasperini for the team's progress, describing his work as a guarantee. He also praised the coach's relationship with the city, saying he approached it humbly and has already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela highlighted several players. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné in midfield are a guarantee. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. Starting the year with Malen, he said, can make the difference. He concluded that if the club keeps its ideas clear and adds a couple of pieces the squad is missing, the team can enjoy itself even more. He said: "I am certain the club will do it."

Thirteen Roma players have left Trigoria for the November international break, a squad-wide exodus that will see the club's men return to Rome only a few days before the match against Parma. Only Inter, Frosinone and Torino have had more players called up by their national teams (14), while Roma sit level with Milan and Como. The number could have been higher, given the less than ideal condition of Mancini and Koné. Daily work at Trigoria under Gasperini was the reason Koné said no to France. Cristante is also out, as explained by Italy coach Mancini: "I didn't need to test him because I know him." Molina will not be going to Argentina; the full-back had been called up at the last minute by coach Scaloni, but Roma and Gasperini opposed the move. Malen is among the most anticipated players, and on his role with the Netherlands, Xavi was clear: "I see him as a centre-forward." The mood around Trigoria is different, with Gasperini wanting to get all his starters back to fight for the Champions League and the derby. The headline also carries a comment from Francesco Totti on the Scudetto: "Something is missing to win the Scudetto." The break brings a mix of departures and returns for Roma, with the squad's fitness and availability becoming the main focus before the next fixture against Parma.

Roma are working on a contract extension for Mario Hermoso, with talks reportedly already under way for a deal running to 2029 with an option for 2030, according to Angelo Mangiante. Three goals this season and increasingly convincing performances have accelerated the process under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the Spaniard described as a pillar of the side. Elsewhere, Paulo Dybala's future may lie in the United States. Piero Torri reports that Inter Miami have already made contact with the Argentinian's entourage, while New York City are reportedly weighing up an offer. No agreement has been reached, but Dybala's contract, which expires in 2027, is fuelling the speculation. Roma are also looking to the January window, with Gasperini hoping for reinforcements. The club's strategy is to target a quick attacking winger, possibly on loan in the mould of Donyell Malen, while Endrick and Gittens remain under observation and Højbjerg has returned as an option for midfield. On the injury front, Mile Svilar and Dybala are aiming to return for the trip to Parma on 21 November, with Gasperini expected to regain two key players during the international break. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini are also in good shape, while Devyne Rensch remains in doubt. Lorenzo Pellegrini has decided against surgery on his tendon and will continue with conservative therapy, with his return not expected before January. Roma's Argentina international Nahuel Molina has been kept at Trigoria: the club refused Argentina's call-up after his FIFA suspension was reduced, with the invitation arriving only on Saturday during the Roma-Sassuolo match, too late for a long trip for what could be a single friendly. Lorenzo Dattilo, a left-back born in 2010, has signed a three-year contract, turning down Atletico Madrid. The former Under-17 European champion with Italy is already playing for Roma's Under-18 side. In Serie A, Roma sit third, unbeaten in the league and two points behind leaders Lazio, having scored 31 goals and conceded just ten in eleven matchdays. At Frosinone, the club is preparing a move to keep winger Kvernadze, who is being followed by Roma. According to Tuttomercatoweb, a deal worth one million euros a season, five times his current salary, is ready. Behind it sits a four-million-euro release clause, activatable from next summer, which Frosinone could seek to change.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has written in a letter published by Il Messaggero that Roma should believe they can contend for the Serie A title until the end of the season, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach that the club should not settle for less. Candela wrote that Inter may win the league given they have the strongest squad, but that Roma have all the qualities to fight for it to the final day. Candela praised the way Roma play, saying watching them is a spectacle: they score, entertain and show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A. He credited Gasperini for the team's progress, describing his work as a guarantee. He also praised the coach's relationship with the city, saying he approached it humbly and has already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela highlighted several players. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné in midfield are a guarantee. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. Starting the year with Malen, he said, can make the difference. He concluded that if the club keeps its ideas clear and adds a couple of pieces the squad is missing, the team can enjoy itself even more. He said: "I am certain the club will do it."

Roma head into the international break with a near-perfect run to protect, and Gian Piero Gasperini has used a demanding stretch of nine matches in 27 days to rotate his squad. Gasperini admitted the schedule had been tough but said it had allowed him to use the whole squad: "We had tough clashes like Como, Napoli, Manchester and Real Madrid. The management was not a problem, and this allowed us to rotate the whole squad." During that intense spell, players who had been on the fringes stepped forward. Rodrigo Mora took advantage of Paulo Dybala's extended absence to win a key role, scoring in three consecutive matches. De Roon showed why Gasperini wanted him in the capital, while Ghilardi, Gollini and Vásquez also got their chances. Gasperini gave everyone a run-out, partly out of necessity. Both the coach and D'Amico have acknowledged that the squad is thin, and with a few injuries it risks becoming very thin indeed. The debate over whether the break is a blessing may therefore be answered by the players Roma get back when the league resumes. Roma are among the clubs that could benefit most from the pause. Their injuries have required fairly long recovery periods, but few players have been affected. The problem is that nearly all of them are key figures in the Giallorossi set-up. Chief among them is Mile Svilar, who has been out since 10 October and has kept training both at Trigoria and in individual sessions with a fitness coach, without managing to speed up his recovery. Tests carried out about ten days ago led the club and the goalkeeper to choose caution. The aim is for him to return against Parma, and then reach peak condition for the highly delicate trip to Paris. Dybala is on the same timetable. The calf injury he suffered against Real Madrid kept him out longer than expected, but the Argentine is now ready to return and make a difference, perhaps also finding a goal he has not scored since 18 January. Manu Koné has already returned, playing 66 excellent minutes against Sassuolo. The Frenchman was not called up by his national team and will use these days to regain his best condition. He will have an extra incentive compared with his team-mates: to impress at the Parc des Princes, a stadium a few kilometres from the home where he grew up. Gasperini hopes to get back the Roma of the "first lines", because he refuses to talk about starters. The coach remains torn about the break: "It interrupts the league again, although this time only for a week. I like international matches when they play for something important. For friendlies or matches of little consequence, it is a pity to lose so many players." Roma face another demanding run: seven matches in 29 days, during which the Giallorossi will play a major part of their season. The fixtures include the already mentioned trip to Paris Saint-Germain, the home match against Sporting, the game against Juventus and, above all, the derby against Lazio on 13 December. The next month will be crucial in measuring Roma's real ambitions, with the January transfer window expected to bring fresh impetus.

Roma's strength lies less in individual numbers than in a group that has fully absorbed Gian Piero Gasperini's football, according to Il Messaggero. Using intelligent management and constant rotation, the coach has got value from almost the entire squad during a recent run of nine matches in 27 days. Every player has become useful, and every piece has found its place. The secret, as Il Messaggero reports, is total involvement. Gasperini does not talk about turnover; for him, "everyone plays", and the numbers back that up. Around a core of solid starters such as Evan N'Dicka and Wesley, the coach has a reliable group ready to answer the call. The clearest example is Niccolò Pisilli. A year ago he had played just six minutes and came close to a loan move to Genoa; today he has almost 700 minutes, four goals, and has become the club's second-highest scorer behind Donyell Malen. Injuries, paradoxically, have accelerated the process, opening the door for many others. De Roon has brought continuity, Rodrigo Mora and Emanuele Lulli have brought freshness, and Leonardo Balerdi has regained his solidity in a defence that can count on four high-level centre-backs and the reliability of Daniele Ghilardi. In goal, Pierluigi Gollini and Devis Vásquez have also answered the call. Even Santiago Castro, who seemed destined for little playing time, has carved out his own role. With Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar set to return when the season resumes, the group will be more complete still. Despite this, Gasperini has stressed that to keep growing the squad will need to be widened further in January. That view is shared by sporting director D'Amico, who says the club is united, has clear ideas, and wants to plan every step without limits.

Roma's focus for the January transfer window has settled on a single target: an attacking winger, ideally left-footed, who is already capable of making a difference at the highest level. The club's primary objective is Real Madrid's Endrick. The Brazilian and Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly admired each other before ever working together, and that admiration grew during the Champions League match between Roma and Real Madrid, when the coach valued the forward's versatility and his physical and technical qualities up close. Endrick was reportedly impressed by Roma's attacking style, which the report suggests would give him more enjoyment than the bench in Madrid. The transfer is constrained by two conditions. Roma can only pursue a deal along the lines of the Malen operation, meaning a loan with an obligation and a right of redemption linked to Champions League qualification, and nothing more. The player must also be of international standard, young but already able to make a difference at high levels, rather than an inexperienced prospect in the mould of Vaz or Venturino. The main obstacle is Real Madrid coach Mourinho, who has said he does not want to sell Endrick. Endrick himself spoke this morning and opened the door to a sale, and his entourage has been pushing for a move away from Spain for some time. Relations between the player and Roma have remained unchanged since the failed summer attempt, and a meeting was held after the Champions League game at the Olimpico to reaffirm their mutual desire to get together in January. The report says Endrick's mood is worsening by the day. Ancelotti has made clear he must play more or risk losing his place in the Brazil squad, which the article describes as a crime for a Brazilian. A loan has therefore returned to the conversation. Endrick could also return to Real Madrid in June, where Vinicius is reportedly running out of months. Roma would not be caught unprepared: a target is already marked for the summer in Kvernadze of Frosinone. The Georgian is much loved by Gasperini and could be available for less in the summer thanks to a reported 4 million euro clause with a high resale percentage. Frosinone currently do not intend to sell him unless they receive crazy offers, but the situation would change in June. The plan, the article says, is clear: Endrick now for the title race, Kvernadze tomorrow. The alternative to the Brazilian could be Gittens, but the fact that the Englishman has never actually played for Chelsea raises legitimate questions. Gasperini had recently expressed a desire to invest in midfield, but that possibility has faded as the days pass. Roma do not want to disrupt a department that has functioned well even during a real emergency, and the club is counting on Pellegrini's return in January. On the left side of defence, Lulli's emergence does not create any urgency, and loan opportunities will be taken if they arise. Oosterwoolde will not arrive, as his physical condition is not convincing, while Balde of Barcelona is of interest.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has written in a letter published by Il Messaggero that Roma should believe they can contend for the Serie A title until the end of the season, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach that the club should not settle for less. Candela wrote that Inter may win the league given they have the strongest squad, but that Roma have all the qualities to fight for it to the final day. Candela praised the way Roma play, saying watching them is a spectacle: they score, entertain and show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A. He credited Gasperini for the team's progress, describing his work as a guarantee. He also praised the coach's relationship with the city, saying he approached it humbly and has already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela highlighted several players. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné in midfield are a guarantee. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. Starting the year with Malen, he said, can make the difference. He concluded that if the club keeps its ideas clear and adds a couple of pieces the squad is missing, the team can enjoy itself even more. He said: "I am certain the club will do it."

Roma have 13 players called up by their national teams for the November break, a total that places them level with AC Milan and Como in the chasing pack behind Inter, Torino and Frosinone, who lead on 14. The squad list was drawn from the official call-ups for the November fixtures and is subject to changes before the matches. The Roma contingent includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez and Giorgio De Marzi; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; defenders Leonardo Balerdi, Daniele Ghilardi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Emanuele Lulli, Evan N'Dicka and Wesley; and midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Behind the leaders, Atalanta and Udinese are on 12, Juventus have 11, and Napoli and Lazio have eight, with the two Lazio absentees excluded from that count. The total could have been higher, potentially reaching or exceeding 17, had several physical issues or technical decisions by the national coaches gone differently. Gianluca Mancini was initially called up by Italy but had to withdraw with a muscle problem that has also kept him out of the recent match against Sassuolo. Italy coach also left Bryan Cristante out of the squad, although the coach explained he had no need to test him at this stage. Manu Koné, who returned and started against Sassuolo, was left out of France's squad by coach Zidane to avoid a possible physical setback. Nahuel Molina had been called up late by Argentina, but a one-match suspension still to be served, together with opposition from Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini, blocked his departure.